New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman says he has "no idea" if free agent starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda wants to return to the team, reports Andy McCullough of the New Jersey Star-Ledger.
Hiroki Kuroda free agency: Yankees’ GM has ‘No idea’ if P will return
The Yankees best starting pitcher in 2013 has said he would like to finish his career in Japan.
Jamie Sabau
Kuroda, 38, turned down a one year, $14.1 million qualifying offer on Monday. He has also talked openly about wanting to return to Japan to finish his career and it’s possible he could sign there this offseason. So far, he has not given any indication as to which way he is leaning.
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Turning down the qualifying offer may just indicate that he wants more money--$14.1 million would be a paycut from 2013, when he made $15 million. He has signed a one-year deal each of the last three years, and another short-term deal seems most likely.
New York is likely hoping to begin negotiations with him soon. The Yankees are low on quality starting pitching and would love to have Kuroda, who was their best pitcher in 2013, back in uniform for next season. The team is also expected to make a big attempt to sign fellow Japanese starter Masahiro Tanaka.
Kuroda has been with the Yankees for two seasons after spending his first four in the MLB with the Dodgers. He has signed a one-year deal each of the last three years. He made 32 starts this past season, posting a 3.31 ERA and 1.16 WHIP.
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